2017 - 2018 Tiger Football

[kwc]

Memphis center Drew Kyser named to Rimington Trophy watch list

 

Tom Schad , USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 9:48 a.m. CT July 11, 2017 | Updated 11:56 a.m. CT July 11, 2017

 

 

(Photo: Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

Memphis center Drew Kyser is among the 71 centers on the Rimington Trophy watch list, which was announced Tuesday morning.

The award is given annually to the top center in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Kyser has started 25 consecutive games at center for Memphis, dating back to the second game of his true freshman season. The junior from Opelika, Alabama is expected to help anchor what will be one of the most experienced offensive lines in the American Athletic Conference in 2017. He is one of the Tigers' three multi-year starters up front, alongside right guard Gabe Kuhn and right tackle Trevon Tate.

Kyser is one of seven centers from the AAC to be named to the watch list. He is the second Memphis player to make a watch list this summer, joining quarterback Riley Ferguson, who was named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award on Monday.

The Tigers will open fall camp on July 27, and their season-opener is Aug. 31 against Louisiana-Monroe at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

[kwc]

Memphis Tigers football 2017 breakdown: Defensive backs

 

Tom Schad , USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 8:00 a.m. CT July 12, 2017 | Updated 8:00 a.m. CT July 12, 2017

 

Breaking down the 2017 Memphis Tigers: Five defensive players to watch

Here are five defensive players who could have big seasons for the Tigers in 2017, including senior safety Jonathan Cook and a healthy Jackson Dillon. Wochit

 

(Photo: The Commercial Appeal)

Over a period of nine days, we're breaking down the 2017 Memphis football team, position by position, with newcomers to know, projected starters and more. 

Next up: The Tigers' new-look secondary.

Projected Starters: CB Tito Windham, Jr.; S Jonathan Cook, Sr.; S Shaun Rupert, Sr.; CB Terrell Carter, Fr.

Returners: Only four defensive backs who recorded a stat for Memphis last season are back in 2017, Cook, Rupert and cornerbacks Jamil Collins and Christian Slaughter. Fortunately for the Tigers, though, this small group includes the team’s leading tackler (Cook) and two presumptive starting safeties. Cook was all over the field in his first season at Memphis and could blossom into one of the conference’s best defensive backs this year. Rupert, a Missouri transfer, didn’t start last year but he did see a decent amount of playing time, finishing with 17 tackles and an interception. The staff expects him to be able to slide into the spot vacated by Chris Morley. Collins and Slaughter should provide depth to a relatively inexperienced group at cornerback.

 

Newcomers: Memphis welcomed two junior college cornerbacks this spring: Marcus Green and Windham. Green, who sustained a leg injury in spring ball, will not be healthy enough participate in fall camp and is expected to miss the opener. But Windham impressed the staff in spring ball and figures to slide into a starting cornerback role. Who will start opposite him? It’s still anybody’s guess, but Carter, a true freshman from Nashville, has looked as good as expected in summer workouts. He just needs to prove himself with pads on during camp. Redshirt freshman Jacobi Francis and true freshmen Sanchez Blake, Quindon Lewis, Tamaurice Smith and La’Andre Thomas will also compete for playing time. (Thomas signed with Memphis as a quarterback but will start camp at cornerback.) There are also a few redshirt freshmen who could see the field at safety: Josh Perry and Tyrez Lindsey. Coach Mike Norvell has said that Perry probably could’ve contributed as a true freshman last year, but the staff wanted to preserve an extra year of eligibility. He figures to be a key piece of this defense for several years to come.

 

University of Memphis defensive back Josh Perry (middle) during practice in Jackson, Tenn., on Aug. 13, 2016. (Photo: Mark Weber, The Commercial Appeal)

 

The Skinny: This will probably be the most fascinating position to watch in fall camp, just because there are so many new pieces and so much uncertainty. Carter, one of the three four-star recruits in this incoming class, could prove himself worthy of a starting spot right away in camp. Or the Tigers could go with Slaughter, who manned that spot in the spring. Or they could even move Cook to cornerback, then start Perry at safety with Rupert. (This is an arrangement that I think you’ll see at least at some point this season.) Then Green will return to full health and everything could change again. In short, there are a lot of moving pieces here. But there’s also tons of talent. Carter, Lindsey and Perry all had offers from multiple Power Five schools. Perry was long committed to Alabama. Carter chose Memphis over Ole Miss and Tennessee, among others. They might not all be ready to play right away, or gel together quickly, but defensive backs coach Marcus Woodson and defensive coordinator Chris Ball certainly have plenty to work with.

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Spencer Smith named to Ray Guy Award watch list

 

Tom Schad , USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 10:10 a.m. CT July 12, 2017 | Updated 11:46 a.m. CT July 12, 2017

 

 

(Photo: Mark Weber, The Commercial Appeal)

Memphis senior Spencer Smith has been named to the preseason watch list for the Ray Guy Award, which is given annually to the nation's top punter.

Smith was one of 29 punters, including two from the American Athletic Conference, to appear on the list, which was announced Wednesday.

A first-team all-conference honoree in each of the past two seasons, Smith averaged 45.1 yards per punt last year as a junior. With the Newnan, Georgia native handling the majority of the punting responsibilities, the Tigers finished eighth in the Football Bowl Subdivision in net punting (41.1 yards per punt) and allowed just 66 return yards on 58 punts.

Ten semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award will be announced Nov. 16. The list will be trimmed to three finalists on Nov. 21, and the winner will be revealed Dec. 7.

Smith was also among the 146 nominees for this year's AFCA Good Works Team, a community service award. The final roster of 11 FBS recipients — plus 11 more from the Football Championship Series, Divisions II and III and the NAIA — will be announced in September.

Smith is the third Memphis player to appear on a watch list this summer, joining quarterback Riley Ferguson, who is on the watch list for the Maxwell Award, and center Drew Kyser, who made the Rimington Trophy watch list Tuesday.

[kwc]

Texas high school quarterback Brady McBride commits to Memphis Tigers

 

Tom Schad , USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 11:45 p.m. CT July 12, 2017 | Updated 9:05 a.m. CT July 13, 2017

   

(Photo: 247Sports)

Coppell (Texas) High School quarterback Brady McBride announced on Twitter on Wednesday night that he has committed to the University of Memphis.

McBride is rated a three-star recruit by 247 Sports and a two-star prospect by Rivals. He committed to Rice earlier this summer before announcing Wednesday that he was reopening his recruitment and promptly flipping to Memphis.

McBride, who is listed at 6 feet and 193 pounds, also reportedly had offers from Bowling Green and Navy, among others. He completed 200 of 328 passes for 2,616 yards and 33 touchdowns as a junior at Coppell last season.

Memphis now has 11 players in its 2018 recruiting class.

[kwc]

Memphis Tigers football 2017 breakdown: Special teams

 

Tom Schad , USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 8:00 a.m. CT July 13, 2017 | Updated 8:00 a.m. CT July 13, 2017

   

(Photo: Mark Weber, The Commercial Appeal)

Over the past eight days, we've run through the 2017 Memphis football team position by position, with players to watch, projected starters and more.

Today, we conclude the series with what was the Tigers' most dominant unit last year: Special teams.

Projected Starters: K Riley Patterson, Fr.; P Spencer Smith, Sr.; LS Connor Choate, Fr.

Returners: Well for starters, Memphis is set at punter. Smith has been a first-team all-conference selection in each of the past two years, transforming from a walk-on former soccer player into one of the most consistent punters in the country. Nick Jacobs, who dropped 10 of his 12 punts last year inside the 20, also returns for his senior season. Special teams coordinator Joe Lorig didn’t use Jacobs quite as often as his predecessor, James Shibest, did in 2015, but the Australian punter still gives Lorig a highly-skilled short-yardage option. Only two other specialists return: Backup long snapper Tim Belles and holder/punter Evan Michael. (For what it’s worth: The Tigers will also return reigning AAC Special Teams Player of the Year Tony Pollard as their primary kickoff returner, and likely have Anthony Miller continue to return punts.)

 

Buy PhotoUniversity of Memphis kick returner Tony Pollard scrambles past the Navy defense for a 100-yard kickoff for a touchdown during first quarter action at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland.  Mark Weber, The Commercial Appeal

 

Newcomers: As fifth-round draft pick Jake Elliott tries to win the Cincinnati Bengals kicking job, Patterson will be trying to fill the big, big shoes he left behind. Patterson has the pedigree. He’s a product of the Kohl's Kicking Camp circuit that many big-time kickers, including Elliott, have passed through in recent years. And he was coveted by several Power Five schools late in the recruiting process. But it’s not fair, or reasonable, to expect Patterson to duplicate what Elliott did. The other major change isn’t quite as flashy, but it’s just as important: Who will replace Trevor Morgan at long snapper? Morgan was rarely in the spotlight during his four years, which speaks volumes about his reliability. The Tigers will most likely replace him with one of two incoming freshmen: Choate or Preston Brady. Choate also passed through the same Kohl’s Kicking Camp circuit. Brady, a native Memphian, is the son of Memphis’ director of player relations Braxton Brady. Expect an open competition during fall camp.

 

The Skinny: Memphis had arguably the best all-around special teams unit in the country last season, so duplicating that performance — especially with a freshman kicker — will be no easy feat. Much of the unit’s success will hinge on Patterson’s ability to adjust to the college game. It’ll also be interesting to see if Miller continues to return punts. Coach Mike Norvell has said repeatedly that he likes to get the ball in Miller’s hands as much as possible, but there’s also an injury risk that comes with putting him back there.

[kwc]

Memphis' Genard Avery, Gabe Kuhn named to watch lists

Tom Schad , USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 4:43 p.m. CT July 13, 2017 | Updated 4:43 p.m. CT July 13, 2017

   

(Photo: Mark Weber, The Commercial Appeal)

Two more Memphis football players were named to preseason watch lists for national awards Thursday.

Senior linebacker Genard Avery is among the 103 defensive players on the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is given annually to the nation's top defensive player, while senior offensive lineman Gabe Kuhn was named to the Outland Trophy watch list. He was one of 81 players on the list for the award, which recognizes college football's top interior lineman.

Avery was a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection in 2016 after finishing with 81 tackles, including 11 for a loss. He also recorded five sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. The Grenada, Miss., native will be one of Memphis' four player representatives at the AAC's media days in Newport, R.I., next week, alongside safety Jonathan Cook, quarterback Riley Ferguson and wide receiver Anthony Miller.

Kuhn, meanwhile, has emerged as the Tigers' most versatile offensive lineman, playing all over the line in the past three years. Originally the team's starting center, he has since appeared at both tackle and guard, where he spend the majority of last season.

Five finalists for the Nagurski Trophy will be announced Nov. 16, with a winner revealed Dec. 4. The Outland Trophy will narrow its candidate pool to six or seven semifinalists on Nov. 15 and announce a recipient Dec. 7.

With Avery and Kuhn, Memphis now has had five players appear on preseason watch lists this week. The others are senior quarterback Ferguson (Maxwell Award), junior center Drew Kyser (Rimington Trophy) and senior punter Spencer Smith (Ray Guy Award).

Memphis will open its season Aug. 31 against Lousiana-Monroe.

Edited July 17, 2017 by kwc

[kwc]

Memphis' Genard Avery, Tony Pollard on watch lists

 

Tom Schad , USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 9:14 a.m. CT July 17, 2017 | Updated 9:14 a.m. CT July 17, 2017

 

(Photo: Mark Weber, The Commercial Appeal)

Senior linebacker Genard Avery was named to his second watch list in five days Monday morning, while sophomore Tony Pollard became the sixth Memphis player to receive preseason consideration for a national award.

Avery, who appeared on the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Thursday, is also one of 51 linebackers on the watch list for the Butkus Award, which is given annually to the top linebacker in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Pollard, meanwhile, is among the 46 players on the watch list for the Paul Hornung Award, which honors college football's most versatile player.

Avery, a Grenada, Mississippi native, recorded 81 tackles, including 11 for a loss, and five sacks in 2016. A reigning first-team all-American Athletic Conference honoree, he is one of four players representing the Tigers at AAC media days in Newport, Rhode Island this week, along with senior safety Jonathan Cook, senior quarterback Riley Ferguson and senior wide receiver Anthony Miller.

Finalists for the Butkus Award will be revealed Nov. 20, with the winner announced Dec. 5.

Pollard, the reigning AAC Special Teams Player of the Year, is coming off a superb redshirt freshman season in which he played both running back and wide receiver and, most notably, returned kicks. The Memphis native and Melrose High School product finished the season with 159 rushing yards, 298 receiving yards, 1,068 return yards and five total touchdowns. His two kickoff returns for touchdowns snapped a drought at Memphis that lasted more than 19 years.

Memphis has now had six players appear on watch lists for seven different national awards so far this preseason. Avery is the only Tiger who has appeared on multiple lists. The other players receiving preseason consideration are Ferguson (Maxwell Award), junior center Drew Kyser (Rimington Trophy), senior offensive lineman Gabe Kuhn (Outland Trophy), Pollard (Paul Hornung Award) and senior punter Spencer Smith (Ray Guy Award).

[shockernation]

Special year for this group! Just wish we had ut on our schedule so we could score 100 on them...again the best college team in the state will be the u of m...no question! Amway has us at 29 but after we dismantle UCLA we will crack the top 20...GTG

[shockernation]

kwc are you a regular? I drive from lake county to every game 100 miles one way...section 109 chairbacks

[kwc]

On 8/4/2017 at 4:10 PM, shockernation said:

Special year for this group! Just wish we had ut on our schedule so we could score 100 on them...again the best college team in the state will be the u of m...no question! Amway has us at 29 but after we dismantle UCLA we will crack the top 20...GTG

The U of M will be as special as the defense. Let's stop some folks instead of just outscoring them.

[shockernation]

D will be much improved...secondary should be on point 

[kwc]

1 hour ago, shockernation said:

D will be much improved...secondary should be on point 

Offense and Defense both start with line play. If the U on M D-line is on point ... then we got something. That's what I'm hoping for. I'm not concerned about the 'O' at all. We know they will score points. Can the 'D' get stops. That's the million dollar question.

Edited August 6, 2017 by kwc